It can be difficult getting a job in your field, especially when the economy is growing slowly. You must be able to differentiate yourself from other candidates and let employers know you can do the job. You can only accomplish this by getting more interviews. And once you secure an interview, you must be fully prepared to sell your skills to the hiring company. Fortunately, there are some winning interview tips that can greatly enhance your chance of getting the job.

Advance Preparation

There is simply no substitute for advance preparation. The company now has your resume, and an interviewer will ask you some questions from it. Therefore, you must review your background so you can answer questions about past jobs. Study all the duties you had at previous positions. Use action verbs to describe those responsibilities. Examples of good phrases are managed people, coordinated research projects and analyzed financial data. Be prepared to give examples of projects you worked on, and make sure you provide the results you achieved on those projects. Your results should be measurable, such as increasing sales by 10 percent. Moreover, research the company. This will better enable you to demonstrate your skills and knowledge, according to Boston College.

List of Questions

Write some questions you will ask on a legal pad before your interview. These questions demonstrate your keen interest in the company. An interviewer may also commence the interview by asking you for questions. Ask your questions in a logical format. For example, you may start out asking about the job, whether it is a new or replacement position. Subsequently, you may inquire about key projects you'd be working on if you got the job. The point is, ask questions about the position, and then move on to questions about corporate culture or dress code. Avoid skipping around topics, as you will come across as less prepared. A list of five or six questions should be sufficient.

Answering Common Questions

You should be prepared to answer common questions from the interviewer. One such question is, "Why you want to leave your current job." Acceptable answers include to take on greater responsibilities, or because there are few advancement opportunities there. Avoid telling the interviewer that you don't like your boss or company, or that your job has become boring. These responses may paint a negative image of you, which can immediately eliminate you from consideration. Another common question is, "Tell me about your strengths and weaknesses." Stress your most salient strengths, especially those that apply to the open position. Examples are excellent communication, analytical and organizational skills. Weaknesses should be minor ones that don't affect your performance. You may want to modify your answer by following up with a positive comment. For example, "At times, I tend to be hesitant about delegating work to others. I am a perfectionist and always focused on meeting my deadlines."

Appearance & Etiquette

First impressions are paramount during an interview. As for appearance, it is always best to wear a suit if you are a man, or a suit or pants suit if you are a woman. Greet the interviewer with a moderate handshake. Smile and make eye contact during the initial greeting. Continue making eye contact throughout the interview; it adds to your credibility. Show enthusiasm for the job by sitting erect and using inflections in your voice. Avoid talking in a monotone. Companies hire people with high energy levels. Moreover, thank the hiring manager after the interview. And, send a thank-you note the same day to re-emphasize your experience and the contributions you can make on the job.